7/26/2003 01:05:00 am -
Reported by
Shaun Lyon

July 26, 2003 • Posted By Shaun Lyon

Big Finish has announced full details of the forthcoming He Jests at Scars... by Gary Russell, the fourth "Doctor Who Unbound" serial that DWM reported (and we posted) earlier this week. The story explores "what might have happened if the Valeyard had not been defeated at the end of the Sixth Doctor's trial." "Gary had been itching to write a Valeyard story for a long time," says producer John Ainsworth, "and it seemed to be a good fit with the Doctor Who Unbound series." The story was contingent upon Jayston being able to return, which he did with open arms. Also returning is Bonnie Langford as Melanie, but a slightly different version: "Mel is a little bit more gritty a little tougher. ... It's nice to have a Mel who's a little bit more realistic and a little less goody-two-shoes." Also returning are Anthony Keetch (who played Vansell in several Big Finish audios) and Juliet Warner as Ellie Martin (from the Sarah Jane Smith series), who becomes the Valeyard's companion here. The story is due out in August; at right is the current publicity shot and below is the story blurb. The trailer for the story is available on Big Finish's website. Big Finish has also announced that the sixth story, Deadline by Rob Shearman, starring Derek Jacobi, has been moved up to fifth in release order, while Exile by Nicholas Briggs -- the story that will feature a female Doctor -- will now be released last, in October. (Thanks to Big Finish)

He Jests at Scars, by Gary Russell

What if... the Valeyard had won?

The thing about meddling with time is that one moment something is real, the next, it's been erased. Probability become just a possibility. Established truth becomes a theoretical falsehood. Like dominoes, as one timeline falls, the others come cascading down around it. You can engineer new timelines, new possibilities but before long, the distinction between what is, what was, what might be and what never can be becomes blurred.

Out of this grow myths, lies and legends. The Doctor was one such legend, but no one knows whether he truly ever existed. Well, not now they don't. The Mighty One, ruling the multiverses from the eternal city of Chronopolis has made sure of that.